Great Agility Starts with Great Leadership – But What Does It Take?

An Agile Leader can be considered pivotal to the success of a product development team. So why is it that we spend so much focus and attention on the development and coaching of the team than we do where the most impact can be made? And why is it that at leadership level there is less priority to adapt and develop agility?

I’ve spent the past 13 or so years coaching teams and leaders in the practice and implementation of Agile. I have always found that leaders have the best intentions in any change programme, but there is such complexity and conflict that surfaces. The time that is available for leaders to adapt and develop agility is fairly non-existent. It can also be said that they tend to get caught out without realising and struggle with the balance of ensuring the success of an Agile implementation whilst also maintaining commercial strength in the marketplace, what is more commonly known as “the daily grind”. Sadly, such balance tends to end up airing towards the commercial needs of the organisation, this of course is totally understandable given the nature of how corporations need to operate and be successful. However, it is no longer a ‘nice to have’ to have great agility in the workplace to enable sustained success and longevity in the organisation and in the marketplace. It is essential.

And so something has to give, for the balance to be assured.

And that something is the acceptance that leaders and teams need the time and capacity to embed the practice, adapt the mindset and develop the soft skills necessary to enable successful implementation.

In any change programme, we must hone right in on leadership. For it is the 1st line management that will unlock the door to optimum agility. Not the teams on the ground. They will follow the lead and as long as they are enabled, and given training, coaching and support, they will thrive. But it must start at management level first.?

And it is that layer of 1st line management that must come together as a cross-functional leadership team, collaborating to enable optimum agility. Once you have this in place, and you are all aligned on the vision, only then can you start to focus in on self as an Agile Leader.?

What is an Agile Leader??

An Agile Leader is not just a manager; they are catalysts for change, visionaries who inspire and empower their teams to achieve greatness. Unlike traditional hierarchical leadership, Agile Leaders foster collaboration, adaptability, and continuous improvement. They embrace uncertainty and complexity, leading their teams through change with resilience and creativity. An Agile Leader is typically operating in a position to support the development of products or delivering services. For example, a suite of software product development teams will typically have a Product, Design, Software Development, Test, Data and Project layer of management. Leadership skills can also be apparent inside the team on the ground but without having formal line management responsibility; for example, Lead Developer, Scrum Master, Product Owner.

My own personal definition of the role of leader of an Agile Team is to motivate, inspire and empower its people. To enable rapid flow of value delivery, and to ensure optimum responsiveness to change.

Sounds simple doesn’t it? But it takes 3 distinct core components to really make it work and become a highly effective Agile Leader. I call this The Agile Leadership Triangle.

What is the Agile Leadership Triangle – Mind, Body and Soul?

The 3 core components that make up the Agile Leadership Triangle is Mind: The Agile Leadership Mindset. Becoming a proactive leader, overcoming the mental models that are preventing agility and holding you back as a leader, and a human, Challenging the status quo, ?and helping others to adopt a relentless focus on value for your customers. Body: The Practical Implementation of Agile, the frameworks, mechanics, the purpose, the how. But from a leadership perspective – what is required and expected from you as a leader and how you can enable agility. And finally, it is Soul: Empathetic Leadership – emotional intelligence, psychological safety, self-awareness and mindfulness, the real soft skills required for a highly effective and impactful leader.

A leader cannot thrive by excelling in just one aspect of the triangle. Neglecting any dimension can lead to imbalance and inefficiency. For instance, a leader with sharp analytical skills but lacking emotional intelligence may struggle to connect with their team on a deeper level, hindering collaboration and morale. By nurturing all three facets of the triangle, leaders can cultivate resilience, empathy, and clarity – essential qualities for navigating complex challenges.

In most leadership development programmes, they focus in on one, at the most two of these dimensions. But for optimum agility for the organisation, and to unlock your own potential as Agile Leader, we must cater for all three.

How to Build the Soft Skills of Agile Leadership?

Developing the soft skills of Agile Leadership requires intentional effort and continuous practice. Leaders can enhance their emotional intelligence through self-awareness exercises, empathy-building activities, and active listening. They can hone their communication skills by seeking feedback, engaging in constructive dialogue, and fostering a culture of openness and transparency within their teams.

How to Change Your Mindset?

Shifting from a traditional to an Agile Leader mindset requires a willingness to embrace change and uncertainty. Leaders must let go of rigid control and adopt a mindset of curiosity, experimentation, and learning. This involves challenging assumptions, reframing setbacks as opportunities for growth, and encouraging a culture of innovation and agility within their organisations.

What Can You Start Doing Today?

The first thing you can do isn’t necessarily an action, but more of a reflection. If you are determined and believe that optimum agility is the way forward for you and your organisation, then you can spend some time reflecting on what hasn’t worked in the past, why hasn’t it worked? What is it going to take for this time to be different? Do you have others on board? Or is it you yourself that perhaps may be holding things back, why might that be?

Start by reflecting on your leadership style and identifying areas for growth. Commit to ongoing self-improvement through reading, attending workshops, and seeking mentorship and coaching. Practice active listening and empathy in your interactions with team members. Encourage experimentation and celebrate small wins to foster a culture of continuous improvement.

A major misconception in Agile implementation is that it is a methodology for working practice. That if we changed the process and started talking the right language, then all of our problems will be solved. But this is a mental model that has perhaps cost organisations ￡millions, and it has to change.

What is The Agile Leadership Triangle Programme?

The Agile Leadership Triangle Programme is a comprehensive leadership development initiative designed to equip leaders in that 1st line of management layer with the Mind, Body and Soul Through a blend of coaching, online learning, mentoring and community that builds strength in each dimension of The Agile Leadership Triangle, ultimately building great agility and enhancing the profile of the leader, inspiring excellence and driving organisational success.

Agile Leadership is not just a buzzword; it's a transformative approach to leadership that empowers individuals and teams to thrive in an ever-changing world. By focusing on the Agile Leadership Triangle – The Mind, Body, and Soul, leaders can unlock their full potential and guide their teams towards greatness. Embrace the Agile Leadership journey, and watch as you transition from good to great.

I’d like you to look inward for a second and assess your own capability in each of the 3 areas of Agile Leadership: Mind, Body and Soul. I’d like you to score each one out of 10.

Mind: Agile Leadership Mindset – Proactiveness, challenging the status quo, empowering the team.

Body: Optimum Leadership Agility – Practical implementation of Agile, knowledge, and leadership agility.

Soul: Leadership Soft Skills – Emotional intelligence, psychological safety, self-awareness, mindfulness

How did you get on? If you scored less than 21, I’d like to invite you to join me on a discovery call to explore how I can help develop your skills in each of these areas.

Book a call here and let’s work together to get you to smash through your potential as a highly effective Agile Leader.